Feeding and sleeping doll



APril 1959 J. ELLMAN FEEDING AND SLEEPING DOLL- Filed April 17, 1958 vi5 a v INVENTOR. JUL/U5 ELLM/IN.

ATTORNE K a United States Patent 2,883,794 FEEDING AND SLEEPING DOLLJulius Ellman, Brooklyn, N .Y.

Application April 17, 1958, Serial No. 729,150

7 Claims. (Cl. 46-141) This invention relates to toys and,moreparticularly, to an infant doll.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding andsleeping type infant doll that. willr'ealistically simulate the feedingand sleeping periods of small infants in an authentic and lifelikemanner. Ordinarily,,an infant, prior to feeding, is quite alert andkeeps its-{eyes open Referring now to the drawing, and more particularlyto Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, a head of a doll made in accord- 13 and a mouth28 which communicate with the'interior of the compartment. p

A set of simulated eyes 15 (Fig. 7), each having a simulated iris and animmediately adjacent opaque portion separated by a set of'eyelashes 16,are secured upon a.

' common shaft 17 for simultaneous movement between a normal eye openposition and an adjusted eye closed position, as will be hereinaftermore fully described. The shaft 17 is rotatably supported upon abracket18 secured within the shell so as to enable the spheroidal simulatedeyeball portions to rotate between the aforementioned until it has beenfed. During the feeding period, the

infant will become sleepy, close its eyes, and take a nap until itbecomes uncomfortable and requires a diaper change, at which time itwill open its eyes and call for attention. This is a procedure whichpractically all infants follow from the beginning of the cyclecommencing basic functions of an infant so as to provide both an amusingand educational toy. j p Another object of the present invention is-toprovide an infant doll that will carry out the foregoing, functionscompletely automatically and without further adjustment other thanplacing the doll in a feeding position and placing a bottle of simulatedmilk to the lips of the doll.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll of theabove type that is completely operated'by the flow of liquid into themouth of the doll and which has all of the working parts completelyconfined within the shell simulating the head of the doll. A stillfurther object of the present invention is to provide a doll of the typedescribed which can be manufactured in large quantities at relativelylow cost, and which will not interfere with the other working parts ofthe toy. All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantagesof this invention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a doll head made inaccordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevationalview of the doll head shown in Fig; l. a 1

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along thesymmetrical plane of the doll head showing the eyes thereof andassociated parts in a normally open position.

'Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the doll head in an initialfeeding position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the change in the positionof certain parts occurring during the feeding'cyc'le. I

' Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig..5,:showing the eyes position in directproximity with-the eye socket openings 13 in a smooth and uninterruptedmanner.

A lever 20 is also secured to the shaft 17 adjacent to the mid sectionthereof. To facilitate the proper oper ation of the parts, thelongitudinal axis of the lever 20 extends along a line that issubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft 17and substantially normal to the central axes of the simulated irises 19of the eyes. A weight 22 is secured to the end of the lever 20 closestto the top of the head 10, which weight is further disposed within thearea defined between the top of the head 10 and the shaft 17, and.between the shaft 17 and backof the head. The eyes 15 are thusmaintained in an open position during movement of the head within thesymmetrical plane of the shell from an erect position, such as thatshown in Fig. 3 to a full face up prone position, such as that shown inFig. 4.

A shallow receptacle 23 is secured to the opposite end of the lever 20and has an open end 25 which is supported in proximity to the open mouth28 in the face of the doll by the weight 22 that maintains the eyes inthe open position. The opposite end of the receptacle is provided with abottom wall 26 that is constructed from any desired liquid permeablematerial as for instance filter cloth, filter stone, etc. Thus, when thedoll is placed in the face up prone position illustrated in Fig. 4, the'eyes 15 are in the aforementioned open position. However, as liquid 36from the feeding bottle 35 empties into the receptacle 23 through theopen mouth 28, the Weight of a predetermined quantity of such liquidwill serve as a counter balance to counteract the effect of the weight22 by moving the receptacle 23 downwardly to an intermediate position23a, in which position the eyes 15 are also rotated to an intermediateposition 15a simulating closing eyes of a tiring or drowsy infant. Asthe liquid 36 continues to empty into the receptacle, the additionalweight moves the partially rotated receptacle 23a to a fully adjustedposition 23b, in which position the partially closed eyes 15a are alsorotated to a fully closed position 15b, thus simulating an infant thathas fallen asleep.

Because of the. nature of the liquid-permeable bottom wall 26 of thereceptacle, the liquid 36 contained therewithin will slowly filter ordrain outwardly therethrough and may form a pool, as shown at 37 withina concavity within the interior of the shell 10, or if desired, may bepiped'away by any desired means (not shown). At the sametirne, the lossof liquid through .the bottom wall 26-will reduce the counterbalancingeffect thereof still in a completely closed position after the end ofthe so thatiafter a predetermined period of time, the weight 22 at theopposite end of the lever will overcome the effect of thiscounterbalancing force and move downwardly by gravity to return theclosedv eyes 15b and adjusted receptacle 23b to the initial positions15, 23, respectively, illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Thissimulates the waking of the infant after its nap. As the doll is thenlighted to upright position, the pool 37 of the liquid collected withinthe concavity in the head will be permitted to flow downwardly into thebody of the doll and then outwardly, if desired, through a suitableopening to simulate the wetting of the infants diaper, following whichthe doll is again ready for the next play cycle.

It will be recognized that the type of liquid-permeable materialselected for the bottom wall 26 of the receptacle 23 will control theperiod of time for which the doll will remain asleep since it alonecontrols the outward flow of liquid which serves as the counterbalancingeffect for retaining the eyes in the closed position 15b. It will alsobe recognized that the liquid flowing outwardly through such permeablewall may be used to provide the simulated diaper-wetting effect or maybe stored, discharged, or disposed of in any other suitable mannerwithout effecting the proper operation of the eye control elements.

While a liquid-permeable wall has been shown as a means for graduallydissipating the liquid from the receptacle 23, it will be understoodthat any substitute means may be utilized for the purpose of graduallydraining the liquid from the receptacle. A lower stop 30 and an upperstop 32 within the shell provide limit means for cushioning themovements of the lever 20 between the opposite extreme positions so asto prevent damage to the sensitive operating parts such as the eyelashes16, etc.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A simulated head for dolls comprising, in combination, a head-shapedshell, a pair of simulated eye sockets and a simulated open mouthcommunicating with the interior of said shell, a set of simulated eyesadjustably supported within said shell in proximity to said sockets formovement between an eye-open position and an eyeclosed position,yielding means normally displaceably maintaining said set of eyes insaid open position, and means for overcoming said yielding means toeffect movement of said set of eyes to said eye-closed position inresponse to the flow of liquid through said mouth opening into theinterior of said shell, said latter means including a receptacle in saidshell in proximity to said open mouth to receive the liquid introducedthrough said open mouth, the increasing weight of said liquid in saidreceptacle gradually overcoming said yielding means and thus graduallymoving said eyes to closed position to simulate a sleeping child, saidreceptacle having outlet means for slowly draining the liquid therefrom,the removal of a predetermined quantity of said liquid from saidreceptacle slowly reducing the counterbalancing effect thereof to permitsaid eyes to return ultimately to said normally fully open position.

2. A simulated head assembly for dolls comprising, in combination, ahead-shaped shell having a face side and a back side, a pair ofsimulated eye sockets and a simulated open mouth in the front face sideof said shell communicating with the interior thereof, a set ofsimulated eyes supported within said shell in proximity to said eyesockets, said set of eyes comprising a pair of spheroidal members eachhaving a simulated iris on one side and an opaque area immediatelyadjacent thereto, bearing means supporting said set of eyes within saidsockets for oscillating movement between an eye-open position with saidirises exposed within said sockets and an eye-closed position with saidopaque areas exposed within said sockets,

gravity responsive means normally maintaining said set of eyes in saidopen position, and means for effecting movement of said set of eyes tosaid eye-closed position in response to the flow of liquid through saidmouth opening into the interior of said shell, said set of eyes furthercomprising a common shaft carried upon said bearing means, and both ofsaid spheroidal members being secured to said shaft for simultaneousrotation therewith, said gravity responsive'means comprising a leversecured to said shaft, and a weight secured to one end of said leverbetween said shaft and the back of the shell, and between said shaft andthe top of said shell, said weight urging said eyes toward said openposition in all movements of said shell within the symmetrical plane ofthe shell between an erect and a face up prone position, said fluidresponsive means comprising a receptacle supported upon the opposite endof said lever having one end opening toward and in proximity to saidmouth opening in said shell, said receptacle in response to the flow ofliquid therein counterbalancing the effect of said weight to rotate saidshaft to move said set of eyes toward said closed position.

3. A simulated head assembly for dolls as set forth in claim 2, furthercomprising outlet means in said receptacle for slowly draining theliquid therefrom, and the removal of a predetermined quantity of saidliquid from said receptacle reducing the counterbalancing effect thereofto cause said set of eyes to return toward said normally open position.

4. A simulated head assembly for dolls as set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid outlet means comprises a liquidpermeable material at the end ofsaid receptacle opposite from said one open end.

5. A head for dolls comprising, in combination, a hollow head-shapedshell, a simulated open mouth communicating with the interior of saidshell, a pair of eye.- balls rotatable on a pivot between an eye-openand an eye-closed position, said eyes having a lever operativelyconnected thereto, a first means on one side of said pivot constitutinga fixed weight normally maintaining said eyes in open position, a secondmeans on said lever on the other side of said pivot to receive throughthe mouth, liquid in sufiicient quantity to constitue variable weight toovercome said fixed weight, to turn said eyes about said pivot to closedposition, said second means having outlet means to slowly drain theliquid therefrom to lighten said second means whereby said first meansassumes control of said eyes to move them to open position.

6. A head for dolls as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second meanscomprises a receptacle supported upon the opposite end of said leverhaving one end opening toward and in proximity to said mouth opening insaid shell, said receptacle in response to the flow of liquid thereincounterbalancing the effect of said weight to rotate said shaft to movesaid set of eyes toward said closed position.

7. A head for dolls as set forth in claim 5 wherein said outlet meanscomprises a liquid-permeable material at the end of said receptacleopposite from said one open end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS440,706 Graeser Nov. 18, 1890 488,537 Bentley Dec. 27, 1892 1,193,947Trost Aug. 8, 1916 1,805,231 Blaustein May 12, 1931 2,572,795 Wood Oct.23, 1951 2,633,663 Fuerst Apr. 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,322Switzerland May 21, 1911

